Terence Emmert is currently serving as the Acting Director of Defense Research & Engineering for Advanced Capabilities.  He also servesas the Principal Deputy Director of Defense Research and Engineering for Advanced Capabilities (PD DDR&E (AC), and has held that position since October, 2018. In these roles, he directs an organization whose mission is to recognize, explore, and accelerate the development and integration of new technology to maintain U.S. technological superiority. His responsibilities include establishing a Department of Defense (DoD) joint mission engineering capability, overseeing developmental testing, and executing experimentation and prototyping initiatives. He is focused on driving down technical risk, gaining warfighter feedback to better inform requirements, and ensuring that concepts transitioning into acquisition provide needed capability and are timely and affordable.

Mr. Emmert previously held the position of Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Materiel Readiness). In this role, he was the principal advisor to the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) leadership on policies, procedures, and actions related to the materiel readiness of weapons and other materiel systems. He was responsible for the development and implementation of acquisition and sustainment strategies, policies, and processes that provide the Warfighter with cost-effective weapon system readiness across the life cycle, through an integrated defense industrial base.

In August, 2009, Mr. Emmert rejoined the government as a Process Improvement Specialist with the Deputy Chief Management Office. In this capacity, he led series of logistics and maintenance process improvement projects for the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle fielding in Iraq and Afghanistan. Following this assignment, he became the Policy Team Lead, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Materiel Readiness) where he revamped regulations governing sustainment planning for all newly developed weapons platforms.

Mr. Emmert's thirty-plus years of public and private service began as a Naval Aviator where he served aboard a variety of combatant ships. During this time, he was introduced to the acquisition process while serving in the Navy's operational test agency. Following his military service, he entered the private sector and sought out positions that focused on improving manufacturing and supply chain operations.